Customer Reviews

Classical Stretch - The Esmonde Technique: Back Pain Relief Volume 1 / Stress Release

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a chronic back pain sufferer; I am also a Brit who is a home exerciser and was browsing here looking for American DVDs as I think I own all of the British ones, and I saw this. I sent for it, thinking, yeah, yeah, it'll just be hype. But it works, guys, it really does. It isn't a cure, but works more like an anti-inflammatory; just 30 minutes of this, then you can keep going for hours with your usual tasks. I know it won't work for everybody, but I reckon that for most people it would at least make a significant difference. I am only 38, yet was feeling old and dragged down by my pain, despite the aerobics and toning and Pilates I do on my physio's advice to keep the lower back as strong as possible. I cried when I did this for the first time, as I couldn't believe how much better I felt. And don't tell me you don't have 30 minutes a day: if you really have back pain, how much time do you waste even dragging yourself up in the mornings?? Do this before your normal exercises, or instead if you are not an exerciser and you might well feel it changes your life. I hope so: as I said, it might not be for everyone - though you have nothing to lose by trying if your doctor says it is okay to do so. Good luck!

I have suffered back pain for about 20 years. Based on the other review of this DVD, I purchased it. My comments are that the stretches are good and the DVD appears to deliver what is promised in a no-nonsense style.

Pros:
1) Good variety of stretches
2) The instructor is down to earth, a real person who also suffers back pain and is practical.
3) Only a chair is needed for the stretches

Cons:
1) You have to watch carefully how the instructor does the stretches - she does not explain all the moves.
2) While watching the stretches, to see how they are done, you often have to crane your neck up - the opposite of what the stretch calls for.
3) The switch from one stretch movement to the next is often too quick, but to the credit of the instructor, she reminds you you can pause the DVD.

Overall a good routine, and I must confess, my back does appear better after the stretches.

I've been dealing with lower back pain daily since an injury early this past summer. My doctor and chiropractor have given me exercises to try, but they've done nothing to "loosen me up." I caught Miranda on a PBS stretching show awhile back and thought she seemed so down to earth and human. I immediately looked her up online and purchased her Classic Stretch Arms/Abs - Legs/Butt DVD and was so impressed with it! When I learned she also had a back pain dvd, I couldn't order it fast enough! Today was my first day trying it and I'm very impressed. All of the motions are very gentle and she does a great job explaining what's going on. Her honesty and candidness is very refreshing and although she's a veteran ballerina, you don't feel intimidated by her at all. I'd recommend this DVD as well as all of her others to anyone wanting to become more limber and flexible. She's great!

I have suffered from back pain for over 15 years and having several bulging discs in my lower back. Several months ago my lower back hurt so bad I could hardly bend over without screaming. I was having trouble sleeping and even sitting. This video changed all that! After doing this Back Pain video first thing in the morning every morning for a week, and the Full Body Workout only 3 times, my back pain was 75% better. Now after only a month, I have nearly no pain and my back has felt better than it has in years. I feel stronger, less tense, and I actually look forward to doing the Back Pain video every morning. I have to recommend doing the Full Body Workout at least 3 times a week along with this video in order to strengthen the muscles as well as stretch them. I would recommend this video to anyone who has back pain - of course she recommends getting your problem diagnosed first... and so do I.

I don't have back pain, but I like instructor Miranda Esmonde-White's other Classical Stretch programs and thought I might like the two programs on this DVD for a bit of variety. Also, my upper back and shoulders tend to get tight, so I was hoping that these two workouts would be helpful to me.

The first program, Back Pain Relief, is 25 minutes long. Miranda begins the workout on the floor with some gentle stretches which are designed to provide immediate relief for those suffering from back pain. The floorwork includes moves such as cat/cow stretch (arching the back), butterfly pose, and both seated and reclined twists. After 15 minutes on the floor, Miranda has you get a sturdy chair and do some additional twisted seated in the chair as well as some leg extensions to release the back. The remainder of the back workout uses the chair as a barre for standing hip stretches to loosen the hips and hamstrings and further release the back.

The Stress Release program is just a bit longer at about 26 minutes, although Miranda suggests that you can break this workout down into 5-minute chunks (ie, individual songs) if you are short on time). The first 15 minutes of this program are also performed on the floor and incorporate many of the same stretches as in Back Pain Relief. However, the focus here is more on the mid and upper back and gently stretching and lengthening this area. The final 11 minutes of this program is performed in a standing position. Here Miranda states that she is doing more PNF work, or contracting and then releasing the muscles in order to relax them. I found this segment of the workout to be more similar to the other Classical Stretch DVDs that I have tried.

In general, I found both of these workouts to be more gentle than most of the other Classical Stretch DVDs that I've tried, including the Full Body Workout and the 30 Minute Express Workouts. In fact, Miranda states here that the Back Pain program is designed for those in pain, but once the pain has passed, she recommends that you move on to use her 1-hour workout. Therefore, if you are NOT in pain, you may find these workouts too gentle or too easy, but if you are, they may be ideal for treating your condition. One final note: if you have never tried any of Miranda's workouts before, you should be aware that she has a unique personality which rubs some people the wrong way, as she is extremely chatty. I like her, but not everyone does.

I have used the Back Pain Relief stretch for a few years. I suffer from back pain periodically and it is true, the stretches help relieve the pain by the end of the workout. I like the simplicity of the items used(a chair,pillow and/or towel). My Experience with using other stretch routines dvd's produced by other people were not useful when one is experiencing pain, but this one is useful when in pain or not. I am excited to try the Classical Stretch Full body Workout and 30 Minute Express Workouts(available from WPBS), as well as the others available from amazon.com . I hope amazon.com will have the former two available for purchase soon! Using Classical Stretch has been better than working out at the gym. It's convenient; it's easy to hear Miranda's instructions(the music is not blaring) and the background environment is peaceful-but most of all-the stretches work! The Back Pain Relief Stretch is so impressive, that I have given them as gifts to others! Thanks Miranda Esmonde White!

The stretches are great & really do relieve pain!!! However, she does a long intro that is difficult to skip through once you've already heard it once! And I really wish she didn't talk through the whole video. I wish there was an explanation version...and then a "just go through the routine" version, once you know how it goes.

This particular workout by Miranda focuses on pure pain relief for the back. But what you find is that you get a great total body stretch in order to relieve the pain and learn how each muscle group can effect the others. Miranda is very clear that this routine may not cure your problem but help relieve the pain for an extended period of time. It also comes with a Stress Relief segment as well. Each being appx 30 minutes long.

I respect her honesty in stating to seek professional help and know you may need to do these workouts daily in order to get the maximum benefits. Miranda deals with cronic back pain from years of ballet, so she knows about flare up,etc. I found this to be much more effective than making trips to my PT, which took time, gas money just to get there and then another 1 1/2 hours of therapy. I have better results in a 30 minute time period using CS and all in the privacy of my own home. Hats off to Miranda for giving the relief I've been looking for.

This is done alone by Miranda in what looks like a very nice backyard w/a pool/very large pond.

I tried the stress relief first, with the music being nice, not annoying, not amazing. Half of it is sitting stretches such as butterly, twisted sage, side stretches, head, neck, etc. What's different about her is she gets all the angles, she's not stiff about it has to be so & so angle, but just get as far as you can in all directions of that stretch.
The second half is standing which has some very modified/simplified tai chi & yoga triangle poses with some rag doll/touching toes. There is also a moderate amount of sweeping arm movements. This part seemed to start boring me. I am very flexible, but I did enjoy the first half & added some other moves that I felt inspired to do when she did some repeatedly.

The back relief's music is very lively kinda European medival style that surprised me. She starts sitting then with child's pose, then cat/cow stretching, then really deep child's pose with arms at diff angles, kneeling shifting stretches, laying down twisted leg for spine, laying down straight leg to head, butterfly & other simple stretches.
The next half she uses a simple chair w/arms for twisting stretches, leg outstretch stretch, standing w/leg on chair for stretching hamstrings, wide legged twisting side stretches, rotation of the waist while stretching upward, & etc.

In the back pain intro, I like how she reminds people tha back pain is from tight muscles pulling at an imbalanced way & stretching & heat or ice is the best remedy, not resting/laying down which makes the muscles even more tight/atrophy. The only thing I don't like about what she says is that back pain is part of aging & life. It's not, it's from incorrect posture or injury which CAN be healed or at least to the point that it shouldn't effect daily activities.

She does talk a bit much, goes on tangent stories for a short time, but it's worth it because she is very aware of how the body moves & the smallest of shifting of joint can make a big difference in which muscles you stretching & how much more you can get out of the stretch. I think she explained how to stretch very well, telling you how not to do it, where you should be feeling it, etc.
She is surprisingly flexible, even though she has back pain. When laying down, she gets her foot very close to her head when the leg is straight. It shows that stretching is key to keep your body young.

I have had severe facet pain and have arthritis in my lower back. This video really does help with it. It provides a good stretch and does not cause pain. Ms White states on the video that she too is a back pain sufferer. The only problem I have with it is that one of the stretches she does with an extended leg while sitting on a chair is impossible for me to do. She is extremely flexible but I am not!!